Common problems with gas bbq grill heat and ignition
As a BBQ grill technician I repair gas and charcoal barbeque grills and clean or replace burners, grill cooking grates, ignitors, heat shields and various replacement parts every day. There is a call I get at east once every day where a gas grill is inoperable and , although the customer thinks they need me urgently they do not need technical service at all. One of the most misunderstood functions of your gas barbecue grill today in in your 20 lb propane gas container. Any portable propane container manufactured after September 1998 must be fitted with a overfill prevention device (OPD) and no propane cylinder without an OPD may be re-filled after April 2002. The triangulated handwheel denotes the OPD installation. By now, most gas grill owners have had their tanks confiscated at the re-fill station and have purchased a compliant propane tank. There is also a check valve that safely detects leaks in your gas tank that could cause problems with cooking if used incorrectly.
The check valve is installed to detect hazardous leaks in your propane tank. When the tank hand wheel is turned to open, the liquid propane travels through the check valve and the barbeque grill regulator to fill the hose attaching to the grill manifold. When the grill is turned off, the gas fills the hose and the same pressure that left the valve returns to the tank. If there is a leak in any of the fittings that connect your propane tank to your gas grill, the drop in pressure is noted and the tank goes “into check” which restricts or stops gas flow.
My BBQ will not get hot.
I get several service requests every week from customers who believe they need a new propane gas regulator, ignitor electrodes, replacement grill burners and more. I have learned it is part of the mentality of the griller to self-diagnose the problem and come up with a solution and it is always tricky attempting to explain the probable culprit without telling the testosterone carrier of the house that the gas BBQ grill is not being used correctly.
The OPD can affect the pressure in the propane tank that goes through the valve. Both the check valve and the Overfill Prevention Device are good tools intended to keep us safe while enjoying our gas barbeque grills and our backyard. When a new or newly filled propane tank is attached to your gas grill, the OPD is usually at its maximum limit position above a tank filled to capacity. Propane may come through the valve too strongly due to the additional pressure of being full and the OPD displacement. The propane tank goes into check and limits gas flow when too much pressure hits the valve.
The customer visits the gas grill store or calls the technician and requests a service call. Many clients believe they need a replacement grill burner, regulator or ignitor. A propane tank in check will severely limit the amount of propane released. Sometimes the barbeque will be unable to exceed 200 degrees in temperature because the propane tank is in check. I have had calls from customers who have been using their barbecue for several hours and cannot get their food cooked enough to eat!
Gas grill replacement parts are available and are sometimes necessary, low or no gas flow indicates a different typr of repair. The trick is to educate the family chef without insulting their ability to grill or making them feel stupid.
How do I fix the barbeque grill?
To reset the check valve and get back to cooking on your gas barbecue grill, first
- turn everything off. Turn off the grill, the rotisserie, the side burner and the LP gas cylinder tank.
- Once everything is turned off disconnect the propane tank from the gas grill regulator by unscrewing it or pulling the quick-release on older or retro-fitted propane cylinders.
- Now turn the grill on. I know, it is dis-connected from the gas tank but we want to ensure that the pressure in the gas lines or any gas in the burners is released.
- Leave all BBQ grill burners in the on position for 3 – 5 minutes before turning them off.
- Make sure. Most gas barbeque grill valves must be pushed in to turn them and if turning is attempted without pushing the knob, they will not turn to the “on” position.
- With the grill, et al turned off reconnect the propane tank and slowly turn the hand wheel to the open position.
- Slowly. The trick here is to turn the hand wheel slowly.
When the propane gas tank is new or newly-filled, the gas is full and the OPD is pushing slightly on the top filled area and the gas will want to burst through the valve. Turn the gas tank slowly allowing small increments of propane to enter the grill.
Once this is complete, you should be able to turn the barbeque grill on high and ignite your gas grill burner. Your barbecue cooking heat should be back to normal and cooking times decreased. If the problem persists, try this process again to make sure you followed every step. The check valve exists to save your life if there is a leak in any of the gas fittings. If resetting the valve does not solve the problem, bring in a technician to check for leaks.
To find a leak, turn the barbeque grill valves to the off position and the gas tank valve to the full on position. This should pressurize the gas line. Spray soapy water on all the fittings and look for bubbles just like checking for the leak in a flat tire.
Do not attempt to correct a gas leak on your own. While a check valve error when your gas BBQ grill will not get hot or will not ignite is a user education error and an issue corrected by learning about your barbeque and your propane tank, a gas leak should be corrected by a licensed gas service technician. When you are grilling, turn the propane tank on first and then turn on your grill. When you are done cooking, turn the gas tank off first and then turn off the barbeque grill valves. The process releases the pressure in the gas grill hose and manifold which allows the gas tank to release pressure by filling these lines. Keep some safety features in mind regarding your gas BBQ grill parts and you will not buy replacement parts that you do not need. Aside from that be safe, eat well and have fun.
|
|
Goodman 3 Ton 18 Seer Variable Speed Heat Pump Air Conditioner System $3,399.00 |
|
|
York 2 Ton 15 Seer Heat Pump 2 SPEED $699.99 |
|
|
Rheem 3 ton 15 seer Heat pump -Variable speed complete $2,295.00 |
|
|
Rheem 2 1/2 ton 15 seer Heat pump -Variable speed tech $2,195.00 |
|
|
Rheem 2 ton 15 seer Heat pump -Variable speed tech $1,895.00 |
|
|
Rheem 3 1/2 ton 15 seer Heat pump -Variable speed tech $2,495.00 |
|
|
Rheem 4 ton 15 seer Heat pump -Variable speed tech $2,765.00 |
|
|
GSZ130181 / AVPTC183014 Goodman 1.5 Ton 14 SEER Variable Speed Heat Pump $1,493.00 |
|
|
GARRISON 5 TON UPFLOW HORIZONTAL GAS FURNACE HEATING MULTI SPEED $589.99 |
|
|
Emerson 1971 Heat Pump Blower Indoor Motor 1/4HP 208V 3 Speed 1075RPM $109.42 |
|
|
Rheem 3.5 ton 14 Seer Variable Speed Heat Pump System $2,626.00 |
|
|
Rheem 2.5 ton 14 Seer Variable Speed Heat Pump System $2,303.00 |
|
|
Rheem 1.5 ton 14 Seer Variable Speed Heat Pump System $2,084.00 |
|
|
Rheem 4 ton 14 Seer Variable Speed Heat Pump System $2,714.00 |
|
|
Rheem 3 ton 14 Seer Variable Speed Heat Pump System $2,406.00 |
|
|
Rheem 2 ton 14 Seer Variable Speed Heat Pump System $2,127.00 |
|
|
Lennox 2 Speed Controller TSC-3 LB57501A Heat Pump/Condenser $59.00 |
|
|
4 TON 92% UPFLOW HORIZONTAL MULTI SPEED 120k BTU GAS HEATER FURNACE HEAT $959.99 |
|
|
2 Ton 15 Seer 5 Speed Heat Pump System R410a__ASPF183016_SSZ140241_HKR-08C_TXV $2,098.00 |
|
|
3.5 Ton Air Handler Multi Position R22/R410A Multi Speed for Heat Pump or AC Use $560.00 |
|
|
4 Ton Air Handler Multi Position R22/R410A Multi Speed for Heat Pump or AC Use $605.00 |
|
|
3.5 – 4 TON 21″ MBE MULTI SPEED MODULAR BLOWER with 10 KW HEAT STRIP COIL KIT $699.99 |
Tags: fan, mac, osx, software, speed heat, speed heat reviews, speed heater, speed heater paint removal, speedheater paint remover, tools